We could not be more honored to serve the students of Washington State University as the 2017-2018 ASWSU President and Vice President. To be elected by our peers into these positions was a humbling experience and a responsibility that we do not take lightly. We are eager to accomplish our platform pillars of increasing transparency, building community, promoting academics,and ensuring safety as well as work towards addressing issues we heard on the campaign trail. Our administration hopes to build on the foundation of past student leaders, evaluate the purpose and effectiveness of our organization, and ‘Change the Conversation’ of ASWSU to be a more inclusive, transparent, and high functioning organization that serves all students of WSU.

This document is the first of three ‘Changing the Conversation’ Action Plans. With transparency being a top priority of our administration, we will work towards constantly updating the student body on our goals, progress, and current initiatives. The following are tasks, projects, and goals the Frost-Kalt administration will accomplish during the summer of our term.

Sincerely,

Jordan Frost and Garrett KaltASWSU President and Vice President

Transparency:

Hire Executive Staff: The first task of our administration was to assemble a diverse, knowledgeable and skilled Executive Staff to assist us in completing our platform and serving the student body. Our hiring committee selected 13 individuals with the highest scores in our comprehensive application process which included written submissions and an interview. The selected executive staff members are transitioning into their prospective roles and will partake in leadership development activities this summer.

Create and Release “Changing the Conversation: Phase One” Action Plan: This document is the first of three ‘Changing the Conversation’ Action Plans. With transparency being a top priority of our administration, we will work towards constantly updating the student body on our goals, progress, and current initiatives.

Complete an Internal Structure Review of ASWSU: As the government of the student body, ASWSU is responsible for being a voice, advocate, and resource for all students. As we prepare for the year, we will be reviewing the effectiveness of our organization as we hope to enhance the infrastructure for a successful academic year and administrations to come. We will be compiling a running list of areas of improvement and share them with bodies of our organization, such as ASWSU Senate, in hopes of implementing long lasting organizational changes.

Begin creating the “Crimson Book,” an ASWSU Ops Manual: ASWSU is a large organization with numerous leadership roles, subgroups, and bodies of governance. We will create an internal operations manual to ensure sustainability of our organization as well as give all students who are part of it, the information and tools needed to be successful in their roles.

Increase ASWSU Social Media Following by 1500: Many students are unaware of ASWSU and how our organization can serve as a resource and advocate. To assist in communicating our work as well as be connected with more students, we strive to obtain at least 500 more followers on Twitter and at least more 1000 likes on Facebook. We strive to constantly be connected to the student body and social media is one method of achieving this goal.

Release ASWSU University and Executive Committee Applications: In an effort give students more opportunities to get involved on campus and within our organization, we will be creating applications for students to serve on various university committees as well as executive committee’s within ASWSU. These committee applications will be published on our social media outlets and prompted during Alive! Sessions.

Improve Knowledge and Awareness Surrounding Student Fees: We will meet with the Directors of each department that collect student fees to fully understand their budgets and what programs/resources student fees are supporting. This will help us better connect students to resources and understand our key advocacy areas. With a better understanding, we can have conversations about where students dollars should be spent in the future and whether or not to continue fees at their current level into the future.

Create and Release “Changing the Conversation: Phase Two” Action Plan: With the phase one action plan outlining goals and objectives for the summer, we will create a phase two action plan that will serve as a strategic plan for our administration to achieve specific platform items during the academic year.

Community:

Be Present at All Alive! Sessions this Summer: We have made the commitment to be present in Pullman the entire summer. Along with select members of our staff, we will be present at each and every Alive! Session to meet and educate new members of our Cougar Community. We will be giving a speech at each session in front of every attendee and plan on having a table/booth at the resource fair. During these sessions we will introduce ASWSU to new students, grow our social media presence, and distribute ASWSU Committee applications.

Establish Partnerships with Campus and Community Leaders: Throughout the summer we will regularly meet with students, University Administrators, various departments, the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, the Pullman City Council, and other partners to collaborate and begin the discussion on several projects for the upcoming year.

Visit each WSU Campus and Collaborate with ASUI Leaders: In an effort to unify as one WSU, we will visit each WSU campus across the state. During visits we will collaborate with our prospective ASWSU leaders in order to share best practices, strengthen campus partnerships, and unify the student voice. We will meet with the Associated Students of the University of Idaho leaders to accomplish similar objectives.

Submit Request for New Water Bottle Refill Stations in the CUB: The Compton Union Building is the hub of student life. In an effort to improve campus sustainability and promote student health, we will request for new water bottle refill stations to be installed.

Academics:

Meet with All Academic Deans: Collaboration is key. We will outreach to each academic dean in hopes of obtaining a deeper understanding of what each department has to offer students, how we can collaborate on improving student services, and opportunities for student engagement within their colleges.

Evaluate Readership Program: Our current readership program on campus provides students with copies of the New York Times, US Today, and Spokesman Review. Recognizing the importance of being aware in an ever changing global society, we will explore new and innovative platforms for student engagement such as online access.

Safety:

Collaborate and Review Moratorium with IFC and PAN Leadership: Last semester, IFC and PAN Leadership released a ‘Post-Moratorium Community Action Plan’ with the purpose of addressing four key issues: sexual violence, alcohol and drug abuse, mental health, and serious incidents. We will meet with leadership within these communities and discuss ways in which ASWSU can partner/assist in making our Cougar community safe for all students.

Meet with Local Safety Leaders: In an effort to become more knowledgeable about our community and safety concerns, we will meet with Pullman PD, WSUPD, Health and Wellness Services, the Office of Equal Opportunity, and the Office of Student Conduct.

Begin Projects to Improve Lighting and Crosswalk Safety on Campus: Aware that sections of our campus are inadequately lit, we will work towards identifying areas in which lighting needs to be improved and research the feasibility of switching our amber lights to more energy efficient and effective white lights. Additionally, we will work with facilities to add crosswalk lights where they are currently missing.

Collaborate with Office of Equal Opportunity to Complete Violence Prevention Website Revision: Last semester, ASWSU Senate unanimously passed R46-22: Resolution in Support of Improving WSU Sex and Gender Based Violence Website. We will continue our collaborative efforts with the WSU Office of Equal Opportunity to make the website more comprehensive and user-friendly.

The Associated Students of Washington State University is here to support, advocate, and listen. Please reach out with any comments or suggestions you may have on how we should move forward with these identified initiatives.

If you are interested in collaborating on any of these action items or have any questions, please contact us or stop by our office in CUB 314.

The Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) honored 18 WSU faculty and staff members at their fourth annual Faculty & Staff Awards Banquet.

“This is one way for us to express our appreciation and gratitude to our unsung heroes,” ASWSU External Affairs Chair and Senator Garrett Kalt said. “Here at WSU, we are fortunate to have so many individuals who are dedicated to improving the lives of students.”

Students nominated and selected the following WSU faculty and staff members to be recognized for the 2016-17 school year.

Diversity is of the upmost importance for our administration and we would like to reiterate that ASWSU does not accept intolerance, hatred or discrimination of any type. We believe in the power of individuals and that every person deserves absolute respect. Every Coug has a different background and story, and we have the ability to benefit from a great variety of people in an enriched educational environment.

ASWSU unequivocally denounces the video that has been circulating; there is no room for hatred and racism in our Cougar community. As a student body, we hope to foster an environment where free speech and the exchange of ideas is robust, however, this video was created to target and create hostility towards members of our community. Although we have made progress in increasing diversity at Washington State, this video reminds us that we must constantly ensure that the lives of our underrepresented students are valued, safe, and supported.

The university has already begun a process of bringing together key stakeholders to not only address this video, but begin to identify areas within the institution that need to change, including; campus climate, cultural competency training, and faculty-staff composition. We fully support these efforts and will ensure that student voices are reflected in these initiatives.

Additionally, we will be working with various ASWSU committees, student organizations, and university administration to build a comprehensive action plan to combat issues that underrepresented Cougs face on campus.

ASWSU will be a part of the solution. We are here to support, advocate, and listen. Please reach out with any comments or suggestions you may have on how we should move forward. We will not let this moment fade away. This is an opportunity to unite as a campus and build an institution that truly does welcome, embrace, and celebrate all students.

If you are interested in partnering with us to address this issue please contact us by phone, email, or stop by our office in CUB 314. We all have a responsibility and role to play in being part of the solution.

The Associated Students of Washington State University President and Vice President-Elect Jordan Frost and Garrett Kalt have selected 11 executive staff members for the 2017 – 18 academic year.

“The goal with a smaller staff is to increase efficiency and maximize the use of student dollars,” Frost said. “We believe having fewer people doing more work will raise the level of involvement and commitment of each individual.” The 2016 – 17 Executive Cabinet had 17 staff members.

After an open application process, the hiring committee selected candidates for an interview and asked them to complete supplemental application materials tailored to the position for which they applied. The hiring committee scored each part of the application: the written responses, supplemental material, and interview. Candidates with the highest scores were selected.

The hiring committee comprised President and Vice President-Elect Frost and Kalt, as well as their selected Chief of Staff Jenna Damberg, Black Student Union VIBES Chair Leoma James, former Panhellenic Executive Officer Ty Baird, and United Greek Cabinet President Ricky Luna. These student leaders brought a diverse and unique perspective to the hiring process, which ensured a wide range of student voices were represented accurately.

Following are the Executive Cabinet members for the 2017 – 18 academic year:

Deputy Chief of Staff: Carmen Jaramillo is a sophomore studying political science and communication with a minor in French. Jaramillo has previously served as the ASWSU reporter at the Daily Evergreen, and currently works at the Compton Union Building. Jaramillo will assist the Vice President in his duties, work closely with all ASWSU communication operations, and connect with groups on campus as an advocate and resource.

Director of Finance: Jamie Lepper is a junior studying business administration with a minor in communication. Lepper works in the Office of Student Conduct and serves as the Executive Recruitment Chair in her sorority, Chi Omega. In her role at Chi Omega she manages a large budget to be used by her recruitment team. As the Director of Finance, Lepper will manage the ASWSU Executive Cabinet budget, oversee all spending, and work with the Chief of Staff to handle all Executive Cabinet wages.

Director of University Affairs: Colleen McMahon is a junior studying accounting with three years of ASWSU experience. She has previously served as ASWSU Freshman Delegate and Senator. McMahon served as the Director of University Affairs for this past year and will continue to serve in this position for the 2017 – 18 year. McMahon will be the liaison between ASWSU and the University Administration, a student voice in committees, and help create University initiatives outlined in the Frost-Kalt platform.

Director of Communication: Mitchell Weholt is a sophomore studying strategic communication and has served as ASWSU Director of Communication this past year. In addition to ASWSU, Weholt is the IFC Director of Public Relations and has owned a creative freelance company for nearly a decade. As Director of Communication, Weholt will work with the Executive Cabinet to promote events, initiatives, and projects with comprehensive public relations campaigns.

Deputy Director of Communication: Zana Crites is a sophomore studying journalism and media production. Crites works as the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for WSU Office of Admissions and serves as a Residential Advisor. As Deputy Director of Communication, Crites will work with the Director of Communication to create content, write and publish press releases, and manage social media.

Director of Legislative Affairs: Matthew Morrow is a junior studying political science with an emphasis in pre-law. He has previously drafted legislation and has policy experience as an ASWSU senator. As Director of Legislative Affairs, Morrow will act as the student voice in Olympia by connecting with legislators and ensuring that students’ best interests are realized by policymakers.

Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs: Parker Blekkenk is a sophomore studying neuroscience and has served as Associate Director of Legislative Affairs for the past year. As Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, he will work with the Director of Legislative Affairs to ensure the WSU Pullman campus is civically active, as well as assist in planning Coug Day at the Capitol.

Director of Community Affairs: Joe Kurle is a junior studying strategic communication with a minor in business administration. He previously served as president of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. As a Pullman native, Kurle has developed strong connections with leaders of the Palouse. As Director of Community Affairs, Kurle will partner with Pullman stakeholders to advocate for students and build relationships with the Pullman community.

Director of Diversity and Inclusion: Jared Fluhrer is a junior studying animal sciences. Fluhrer is looking forward to utilizing his personal experiences to better the lives of the students at WSU. As Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Fluhrer will assist with the efforts of multicultural groups on campus. This will include organizing and planning events, such as the Multicultural Fundraising Banquet, CASHE, and VIBES.

Director of Wellness and Safety: Tyler O’Brien is a sophomore studying political science with a minor in Spanish. O’Brien serves as the IFC Director of Service and Philanthropy to coordinate community service and philanthropic events with the WSU fraternity community. As Director of Wellness and Safety, O’Brien will promote health and safety through education and awareness for all aspects of student life.

In addition to the executive staff members, the Frost-Kalt administration will create two committees within the Department of Wellness and Safety. Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention Education, led by Meghan Ranney, and Mental Health and Wellbeing, led by Alexander Kaprosy and Regan Donaldson. These committees will address specific safety issues on our campus, as well as focus on increasing the overall wellbeing of students.

“Not only are the candidates we selected all leaders in their own right, they are individuals who will grow and succeed in their roles,” Vice President-Elect Garrett Kalt said.

Moreover, this ASWSU administration has recognized transparency as a top priority. ASWSU is committed to providing in-depth press releases, an active social media presence, and an involved relationship with the student body.

“Communicating our operations and actions is absolutely necessary and something we will always strive to do,” Kalt said.

Frost and Kalt will present their executive staff candidates to ASWSU Senate for confirmation April 19. Contact Frost and Kalt with questions, comments or concerns:

ASWSU is proud to announce that Martin Stadium will be open for Mom’s Weekend and graduation weekend. We have been working with the WSU Athletics Department for several months in order to provide students with the opportunity to access the stadium for major events.

The stadium will be open for Mom’s Weekend, April 8th, from 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. It will also be open on Graduation weekend with times to be announced.

We would like to remind students how important it is to respect the stadium so it remains in optimal condition for the football team. Please remember that confetti, glitter, animals, champagne or other alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the stadium. Students and their families are expected to cleanup after themselves as well.

We look forward to working with athletics to have the stadium open more in the future.

If you have any questions, please contact the ASWSU Director of Communication, Mitchell Weholt, or the Associate Director of Communication, Ty Baird. Their emails are listed below.

During their meeting on Monday evening, the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils at Washington State University voted to ban all social events in the Greek community for the remaining five weeks of the semester.

As the Associated Students of Washington State University, we commend both councils on their courageous and positive action against a variety of issues that plague college campuses across the nation. This decision was entirely student led and we are proud of those student leaders for taking proactive action before the university was forced to.

This moratorium is not a permanent solution, but a courageous step in the right direction. ASWSU stands behind both the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils and will be working with both parties to support and aide them in finding solutions to make the Greek community stronger. By collaborating ideas we, as student leaders, commit to making an action plan that will go into effect next semester.

One specific way that ASWSU will be partnering with the Greek community during this moratorium and the semester to follow is through our It’s On Cougs campaign. The goal of the campaign is to incite intellectually-stimulated conversation around consent by facilitating focus groups, programming, weeks of awareness, and working with other groups on campus to put together informational videos, panels, and community outreach.

It’s On Cougs has been working closely with community partners such as Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, Green Dot, and WSU Police Department to plan programmings for Greek students throughout the course of the Spring semester and will commit to being a resource and support for Greek leadership and members throughout the entirety of the moratorium.

Please contact the Director of It’s On Cougs, Kelsey Phariss, or Director of Communication, Mitchell Weholt with any questions you may have. Their emails are listed below:

30 Days of Pullman runs through the month of September in hopes to help bridge the gap between the Pullman community and WSU students. Additionally, it presents an opportunity for promotion of local businesses by offering special deals each day.

The deals for this week are:

Monday, September 26th: Free poster and book with ticket at the WSU Museum of Art and $1 drop-in classes for Hot Yoga and Barre classes at Sanctuary Yoga.

Tuesday, September 27th: Free poster and book with ticket at the WSU Museum of Art.

Wednesday, September 28th: Free poster and book with ticket at the WSU Museum of Art.

In order to take advantage of these deals you must bring your student ID to all locations. Follow ASWSU on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat to stay up to date with this month’s deals. Please contact Emyly Hall, the Director of Community Affairs, if you have any further questions. Her email is listed below:

30 Days of Pullman runs through the month of September in hopes to help bridge the gap between the Pullman community and WSU students. Additionally, it presents an opportunity for promotion of local businesses by offering special deals each day.

The deals for this week are:

Monday, September 19th: 15% off entire transaction at Crimson & Grey.

Tuesday, September 20th: $0.50 tacos from 5-9pm.

Wednesday, September 21st: 50% off kitten adoption fees at the Humane Society of the Palouse.

Thursday, September 22nd: 10% off 7:30pm showing and 10% off beer + wine during 21+ showing, buy one get one half off of equal or lesser value at Rico’s pub, and $19.99 all-you-can-play laser tag at Cougar Laser Arena.

Friday, September 23rd: 10% off 7:30pm showing and 10% off beer + wine during 21+ showing and 10% off at Lilly Bee’s consignment shop.

Saturday, September 24th: 10% off 7:30pm showing and 10% off beer + wine during 21+ showing and $1 drop-in classes for hot yoga and barre classes.

In order to take advantage of these deals you must bring your student ID to all locations. Follow ASWSU on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat to stay up to date with this month’s deals. Please contact Emyly Hall, the Director of Community Affairs, if you have any further questions. Her email is listed below:

During their meeting on Wednesday evening, the Associated Students of Washington State University Senate unanimously voted to pass the first student-initiated honor statement in Washington.

The Senators have high hopes that this resolution will decrease academic violations and hold WSU students to a higher academic standard. Garrett Kalt, a junior at WSU and an All-Campus Senator, was the author of this resolution.

“It was an absolute pleasure working with ASWSU Senate and the Office of Student Conduct on this important issue. As students, we must be informed about our university policies. As Cougs, we must be committed to academic excellence and honesty”, said Kalt.

Adam Jussel, the Director of Student Conduct and Associate Dean of Students for WSU, also commented on how excited he was to be able to collaborate with ASWSU in helping support this student-driven campaign.

“The Honor Statement represents a collaborative effort between WSU undergraduate and graduate students and the Office of Student Conduct to highlight the values of being an ethical Coug and raising the standards of excellence for all students,” said Jussel.

ASWSU wants to raise awareness of this honor statement and encourages it to be on the front page of student exams, in prompts for major papers, on faculty syllabi, and on the WSU Junior Writing Portfolio. Additionally, they hope to see a similar statement arise on all WSU campuses across the state of Washington.

The full Honor Statement is as follows: “Cougs act with integrity, respect, and dignity. In order to uphold the honor of our University, we are steadfast in our commitment to academic excellence and honesty. As members of the Cougar Community, we strive to incorporate these values into our daily lives.”

Please contact ASWSU All-Campus Senator Garrett Kalt with any questions you may have in regards to the new Honor Statement. His email is listed below:

30 Days of Pullman runs through the month of September in hopes to help bridge the gap between the Pullman community and WSU students. Additionally, it presents an opportunity for promotion of local businesses by offering special deals each day.

The deals for this week are:

Monday, September 12th: Free appetizer with the purchase of an entree and drink.

Tuesday, September 13th: Free dessert with the purchase of an entree and drink.

Wednesday, September 14th: 10% off all candy at Palouse Country Candy.

Friday, September 16th: 10% at Lilly Bee’s consignment shop and 16% off the entire College Hill Coug Store

Sunday, September 18th: $2 off any bagel over $5.50

In order to take advantage of these deals you must bring your student ID to all locations. Follow ASWSU on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat to stay up to date with this month’s deals. Please contact Emyly Hall, the Director of Community Affairs, if you have any further questions. Her email is listed below: